Taxonomic composition and age structure of coniferous plantations in Bila Tserkva

Abstract

Aims. The taxonomic composition and age structure of coniferous plantations in public and limited access areas were analyzed to establish the taxonomic composition of species and forms of Pynophyta section; predict their introduction success; expand the cultivated range and monitor coniferous plantations in Bila Tserkva. Methods. Territories of general and limited access areas in Bila Tserkva, except the part of the State Dendrological Park “Oleksandria” of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, were inspected using the itinerary methods. Determination of coniferous trees and shrubs taxa was carried out according to the descriptions of G. Kryusman, M. Alexandrova and a guide to the dendroflora of Ukraine. Identification of garden forms was carried out by the Annotated catalogue of species, cultivars and forms of woody gymnosperms. The use of conifers in phytocompositions was analyzed according to the recommendations of V. P. Kucheryavyy. Results. The itinerary surveys reveal that the Pinopsida class is represented by 3 orders, 4 families, 13 genera, 29 species and 46 forms in the plantations of general and limited access areas of Bila Tserkva. The families of Pinaceae Lindl. And Cupressaceae F. Neger has the largest representation in the urban flora. The analysis of age features of coniferous woody plants showed that young plants make up the maximum relative number of plantations in the city – 45%, the territory aged 15–30 years make 26%, and the ones aged 30–65 years make 21%. The share of ancient plants in the city is 8%, among which the trees older than 90 years make up only 3%. Analysis of ornamental forms of the family Pinaceae used in urban landscaping showed that forms of the genus Picea A. Dietr. were the most popular and accounted for 50% of the total number of ornamental forms of the family. Decorative forms of Thuja L. are the most widely used for landscaping in Bila Tserkva and makeup 46.8% of the forms of the Cupressaceae family. Forms of the genus Juniperus L. take second place and makeup 40.6% of the total number of ornamental forms of the family Cupressaceae. Conclusions. Thus, 13 genera, 29 species and 46 forms are used in Bila Tserkva landscaping outside the State Dendrological Park “Oleksandria” of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. However, considering the introduction experience in the coniferetum of the “Oleksandria” park, the diversity of town coniferous can be supplemented with at least 14 species and 125 forms that have been successfully tested in the park coniferetum. It was found that 71% of plantations are aged 5–30 years and are in the virginal and generative condition. Coniferous plants in the landscaping of Bila Tserkva are represented by both regular and landscape compositions in the form of arrays, alleys, compositions of various plants, groups, borders, hedges, a complex of mixborders and solitaires. They limit and divide the territory into zones, emphasize architectural forms of buildings, improve the aesthetic background and the emotional state of compositions and perform sanitary and phytoncide functions through air purification of the urban ecosystem.